Growing up in northern California, if you enjoyed soccer, you sat in the stands at Avaya Stadium and watched the Earthquakes take the pitch weekend after weekend. Whether you had season tickets or were just catching a match, you were one of 18,000 that packed the house.
Minnesota United head athletic trainer Stacey Hardin grew up a San Jose season ticket holder, attending matches with her family. She sat in the stands as a 12-year-old player herself, admiring both the play on the field and the medical staff on the sideline.
When her soccer career came to a halt because of a career-ending injury in her junior year of high school, she was inspired by her physical therapist to pursue a career in the medical field.